Bank of Montreal Can Sells 96,970 Shares of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP)

Bank of Montreal Can lowered its stake in Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP - Free Report) by 18.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 428,127 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 96,970 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned 1.03% of Compass Minerals International worth $4,816,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tsfg LLC acquired a new position in shares of Compass Minerals International during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Denver PWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Compass Minerals International by 33.8% during the third quarter. Denver PWM LLC now owns 3,745 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 946 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in Compass Minerals International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $80,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its stake in Compass Minerals International by 35.9% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 7,189 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $81,000 after acquiring an additional 1,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Compass Minerals International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $187,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.78% of the company's stock.

Compass Minerals International Stock Performance

CMP stock traded up $0.18 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $11.33. 571,856 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 796,722. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $10.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.67, a current ratio of 2.37 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $470.24 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.87 and a beta of 1.17. Compass Minerals International, Inc. has a one year low of $7.51 and a one year high of $15.82.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The basic materials company reported ($0.55) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by ($0.50). Compass Minerals International had a negative net margin of 15.10% and a negative return on equity of 10.00%. Equities research analysts forecast that Compass Minerals International, Inc. will post -0.53 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $13.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Compass Minerals International from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th.

Compass Minerals International Profile

Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.